Easton
I opened my eyes at the sound of silence. I let out a long breath. Lyric was still sleeping in my arms, finally in a deep sleep after an entire night of restless tossing and turning.
She had to be exhausted. I was, and I was grateful that she was finally sleeping and able to rest.
The day hadn’t gone quite as any of us had expected, although none of the days from now on would.
I had slept for perhaps an hour, but I didn’t really need much rest these days. It was as if my wellbeing were on edge, pushing me through with adrenaline better than sleep ever would. I knew me going along with that wasn’t the safest thing for us, but I just couldn’t close my eyes. I worried if I did, someone would come and hurt Lyric. Destroy my people.
I didn’t want to be king. But it wasn’t as if I could tell anybody other than Lyric what I wanted. Saying that I didn’t want to be king of the people, that I was afraid others would die because of my choices sounded as if I didn’t understand what needed to be done. They needed a leader, one they could trust, and I worried that if I weren’t careful, I wouldn’t be strong enough for them.
I needed to be stronger than I was now and gain a sense of purpose, self—and anything else a king required.
My mother had been a true queen. She had made mistakes, but she had started her royal line on the losing end. When her father died during the Fall, with the two old men fighting for power that didn’t make any sense—possibly orchestrated by The Gray and anyone else on the Obscurité side—my mother hadn’t had a choice in the matter.
She had fought against the Lumière her entire life because that was what she had been told to do and what she had learned. And given the Lumière had constantly attacked our kingdom and tried to take our power and hurt our people, she had fought back the only way she knew how.
But the knight of our realm, Lore, seeded deception within our ranks even before we were aware of it.
Lore had cursed me and killed my father. He had taken so much.
But in the end, my mother had died for our future. She had died as the queen the kingdom had known she could be.
I missed her with every breath I took.
I missed my father, too. I missed how we had been a family long before I realized what my duties entailed as a prince.
I hadn’t searched for Lyric as Rhodes had because I had been forced to stay behind to protect our people. Lore had hurt our kingdom to the point where my leaving would have led to more deaths. Rhodes had had the option to go because while he might have been a prince, he hadn’t been the king’s son. So, he had more freedom to find Lyric. I would always be grateful that he had done that because it brought Lyric to me—even if it hadn’t been what Rhodes had thought he would be doing to guarantee his future.
In the end, however, Rhodes and I had developed an understanding. We knew what we needed from each other and what we had to do.
And that meant I had a friend I never expected to have.
The time for battle was upon us, and we were losing people left and right. Yet we were gaining them, too.
And they were all my people. I was king, and Lyric was my Priestess. Not my queen, never that. Not because she couldn’t be, but because she was already higher than that. I had thought perhaps I would be her consort, and that was a title I would gladly take.
For now, that wasn’t an option. For now, I would be a leader who sent my troops into battle, perhaps to their deaths, maybe to victory.
The decision wasn’t an easy one.
Lyric mumbled in her sleep. I tightened my hold on her and kissed her softly on the forehead. When I got out of bed, careful not to wake her, I searched for my pants.
I pulled the leather over my hips and made sure Lyric was covered and still sleeping before leaving a note.
I needed to work off my tension, and though Lyric and I had done a good job of that before we went to sleep, I needed more. Had to run it off or perhaps use my Wielding to train.
Rhodes and Slavik were outside when I got there, both sitting on the stone wall, staring up at the night sky.
“I see it’s a night for restlessness no matter the title,” Slavik said, handing me a tankard of mead.
“So, you’re getting drunk and looking at the sky, then?” I asked, lifting my chin in thanks before taking a big gulp. The warmth of the alcohol spread through me, and I nearly smiled. I hadn’t done much of this recently. Teagan, Arwin, and I had used to carouse back in the day. We’d find random taverns and drink and eat our worries away, if only for the moment.
But now, I didn’t think there was enough alcohol or food in the world to make that happen.
We had all suffered losses, and Wyn’s were the deepest today.
“I’m surprised you’re not with Wyn,” I said to Rhodes, raising a brow.
Rhodes gave me a funny look and then shook his head.
“She’s grieving.”
“No, she’s not,” Slavik said, taking a sip.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked, curious.
“She went to sleep alone after growling at Teagan and you to leave her be.”
“Are you spying now?” Rhodes asked, anger in his tone.
“I don’t need to spy when she screams and shouts at us. Lanya went after her, if that helps,” Slavik added, his tones hushed. “Delphine at her side.”
“The ladies will help her heal as much as possible.”
“Wyn and I…we’re not like that,” Rhodes said suddenly, his voice sounding distant.
I looked at the other man and shrugged. “It would be fine for you to find comfort where you can. Wyn’s a good person. And I guess you are, too.”
Rhodes’ lips twitched at that.
“Thank you for the vote of confidence. However, I don’t think now is the right time to wonder what could come of that comment.”
Slavik snorted and took a sip of his drink. “If not now, then when? You need to find a good woman or a man and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Because you don’t know what’s going to come with the sunrise.”
“I hate that I’m starting to like you,” I said after a minute, and Slavik just beamed.
“It’s not time,” Rhodes said and shook his head. “Might not ever be. I’m not good at figuring out what my path should be, after all.” Rhodes gave me a look, and I shrugged.
“You were meant to be her protector, just like I was. I thought she was yours, as well.”
“I take it you’re talking about the dear Spirit Priestess.” I looked over at Slavik and shrugged. “I thought she was with the Air and Water Wielder, as well. They were a cute couple.”
Rhodes just shook his head as I glared. “I’d watch your tongue,” Rhodes added. “Our king here seems to be a bit growly.”
“Ah, yes, don’t want to mess with the king’s moods. One minute you’re laughing with him, the next it’s ‘off with your heads.’”
“You know, I just said I was starting to like you. I was wrong. I can’t stand you,” I said, grinding my teeth together.
“You love me. And you love all of the people I brought to your side.”
I gave Rhodes a look, and he just shrugged.
“I’m pretty sure half of the people you brought with you are all wanted for some reason or another. Murderers and thieves.”
“Murderers, according to Lore. And that is why you haven’t found them yet.”
“Perhaps,” I said.
“And the thieves? Well, that one’s probably true. As king, you can use your power to get rid of us, or you can wait until you use us and then figure out exactly what to do. Decide if you’re going to pardon those who helped protect the land or seek justice.”
“I don’t know what to think of you, Slavik.”
“Nobody ever does,” the pirate said with a shrug. “But that’s fine with me. I like the air of mystery. Makes the ladies swoon.”
“If that’s what you tell yourself at night,” Rhodes said with a laugh.
“I bet I can make Wyn—”
“I wouldn’t,” Rhodes said tightly.
Interesting.
“What about that Emory? She seems like a firecracker.”
“Emory is a siphon and has not made the best choices in the past,” I began.
“Neither have I. Nor have any of us. But she fought to protect the kingdom and seems to be turning over a new leaf.”
“You’re right,” I said. “She has turned over a new leaf. But we still don’t know what her powers can do. We saw what they did to Zia.” I added, thinking of my aunt. She had looked so shaken before The Gray killed her. I had watched others lose their powers, but none like Zia had. It was if she had lost a part of herself along the way, and I didn’t think I would wish that on my worst enemy. Or perhaps I would, considering that was The Gray.
“Anyway,” Rhodes added, “I think Emory is spoken for.”
I met Rhodes’ gaze. “Lyric and I assumed so,” I said carefully.
“Ah, by the Seer? I approve. She’s very protective for a human,” Slavik added.
“She’s not human any longer,” I said. “But she doesn’t have the power and strength of a Maison either. She’s training.”
“See? You’re adding more and more to your ranks. Beyond just what the perfect Wielders used to be.” I looked over at Slavik.
“You’re right. We made mistakes in the past. We’re probably going to make mistakes in the future. But I hope they are new ones that we can remedy, not a repeat of the old.”
“That is what a good king should do,” Slavik said.
“I cannot believe you guys did that,” I growled.
“Are you going to fight?” Rhodes asked.
“Not now, but when this is over? You and I are going to have a long talk.”
I glared at Rhodes, who lifted his chin. Hopefully, he understood the message. I would be king for now because we needed a war king, but once this was over? If what I thought was coming came to pass, I knew I’d want nothing to do with the throne.
I didn’t think I would be in any shape to be king, nor would I even be a whole person anymore.
“The idea that you guys can talk about a time after the war gives me a little hope. Marginal at best, though.”
I turned to Slavik. “It’s not easy figuring out what’s going to happen after this. I want to pretend that we can decide what’s coming next, but we can’t. And we all know that not everyone will make it out of this alive.”
We were silent for a moment, just drinking, not needing to fill the void.
If you had asked me what my life would look like just a year ago, it definitely wouldn’t have been sitting next to the light prince and the pirate king, drinking mead and staring at the stars while my soulmate slept in my bed, still warm from our lovemaking an hour before. But here we were. And this was the future we had to fight for.
“What’s that?” Slavik asked, setting down his drink. Suddenly sober, I leaned forward and swallowed hard.
“That is a Fire Wielder who doesn’t know what he’s doing,” I said, standing up.
“Are we sober enough for this?” Rhodes asked, rolling his shoulders back.
“I hope we are because I don’t think anyone else is going to help us.”
We were at the far edge of the estate grounds, one where we didn’t have as many sentries because the only way to get to this part from the outside of the estate itself was from The Gray’s lands. And The Gray wouldn’t send an entire army to a small piece of land, so it would only be him or one person at a time. I looked over at the sentries on duty near us. They were still talking amongst themselves.
“We’ve got this,” I said.
One bowed before going back to his post, Wielding at the ready. They would come with us if needed, but for now, I wanted to see exactly who was out there.
The three of us made our way to where the Fire Wielder shot out bursts of flame one after another as if not knowing how to close their hands and steady their palms.
“A former Dane?” Slavik asked, his words slow.
“Perhaps,” I said, dread roiling in my stomach.
My jaw tightened as we looked at the man standing in the field, Fire shooting out of his palms and feet, singeing the earth around him.
“A former Dane, who used to be an Earth Wielder,” I whispered.
“Who is that?” Rhodes asked.
“Durlan. The Gray’s second.”
Both Rhodes and Slavik readied themselves, stomping on the ground as they prepared their Wielding.
I stared at The Gray’s second in front of me and frowned. “I’d hoped you were dead,” I said.
“You tried to kill me. So did your bitch. But you couldn’t. And now, I have these new powers thanks to The Gray.”
“You should thank your Spirit Priestess,” Slavik said. “Your Gray has no power. He just leaches it from the land and others. The Spirit Priestess is the one who gives.”
I hadn’t wanted to tell anyone outside of certain circles about what was going on, but I didn’t think the man in front of us would live long enough to report to The Gray. He deserved to die for what he did to Lyric, let alone all the others he had dared to hurt.
“The Gray always wanted you,” Durlan snapped, Fire sparking from his fingertips. He blew on them, his face gaunt, his eyes strained from the power. He couldn’t handle it, and no one was here to train him. No one would. Was this what The Gray was doing to his people? Letting them die?
I didn’t know, but regardless, Durlan didn’t deserve my sympathy. Not after what he had done.
“The Gray always wanted you,” Durlan repeated.
“Why?” I asked, truly curious now. “Why would he ever want me to be part of his circle?”
“Because he couldn’t have his son there, so he figured he would take you instead.”
Both Rhodes and Slavik stiffened beside me, but I didn’t turn to them. Luken’s secret was his own, but perhaps I should tell the others soon, especially if The Gray and his people were just going to blurt it out.
“You were promised to The Gray as his third because Lore wanted power. You have enough power. You don’t need to be with The Gray. You were always nothing, and then you betrayed him by cutting off that curse of yours with your stupid Priestess.”
“Watch your tongue,” Rhodes snapped, and I grinned.
It was nice to not have to fight on my own, to have people who wanted to battle alongside me. I always had that, but not against Durlan.
“The Gray’s fourth is dead. Lyric killed him.”
“He was weak. A little Whisperer who thought he could gain secrets and, therefore, power. Favor with The Gray. But he was wrong. He was nothing.”
“Whatever you say,” I whispered, trying to understand what Durlan wanted.
“I should be enough for The Gray. But no, he wanted his Easton. And his precious son. And now, he wants the Spirit Priestess? Why? I’ve always been there for him. I’ve always been loyal. I will be the one who takes you out and kills you. Then I’ll take your bitch, too.”
“I would watch your tone when it comes to my mate,” I said. “So, you’re saying that you want all of the power that comes from The Gray?” I asked.
“I want you dead first. After, I’ll take whatever The Gray gives me.”
“I’m sure The Gray will kill you, but whatever,” Slavik said with a shrug, and then Durlan moved. He shot Fire from his hands, but it was unwieldy, too hard, and too fast. Durlan screamed at the pain as his veins bulged in his arms, and Slavik pushed up the rock in front of him, blocking the Fire with ease.
I looked at my friends, and they both shook their heads, not sure what to do. Did they keep Durlan alive? That would be the smart thing so we could question him about The Gray. But I didn’t think we were going to hold The Gray’s second for long, not with the way his power kept fluctuating, his body shaking from being overloaded. I had only really seen this happen to one other person, and Lyric had somehow survived. Because I had been able to hold her in place, to give her some of my stability so she could find her own.
I couldn’t do that for Durlan. Not that I’d want to.
“You took so much!” Durlan screamed.
“I took nothing. The Gray’s the one who’s done it all.”
“Lies!” Durlan screamed and shot Fire towards Rhodes, who flicked his wrist and doused it with his Water.
The casual show of power from the two men at my side enraged Durlan. He threw his hands into the air and then slammed them down, pushing Fire towards me. I used my own Fire Wielding to lock the Fire in the air, something I didn’t often do because it took more energy than it was worth. But I needed to show the man my strength. Show him what a true Fire Wielder could do. Durlan screamed and shot flame after flame after flame at us. We blocked his attempts, not even using the full depths of our powers. Durlan’s body began to shake, his skin stretching awkwardly as if he had too much flame within him.
“He’s going to burn himself out!” Slavik said over the man’s screams.
“I don’t think we can stop him,” I whispered. And I couldn’t. None of us could. Not with how Durlan was wasting his soul trying to take us out.
“I deserve everything. You are nothing!” Durlan shouted. The high-pitched scream echoed in the silence around us, and others came to see what was happening. Lyric was suddenly behind me, I could feel her, but she didn’t come too close. I knew that if she did, Durlan would focus his attention on her. But it was too late anyway. Durlan screamed, then fell to his knees as the Fire consumed him, taking him body and soul because he couldn’t control it.
As Durlan let out his last breath, his eyes wide, I shook my head and tried to douse the flames as much as possible. No one deserved to die like that, not even the truly heinous.
Lyric was at my side in an instant and slid her hand into mine. “That could have been me,” she whispered.
“It wasn’t,” I said, my voice clipped. I didn’t want to think about her like that. Didn’t want to think about what would’ve happened if she hadn’t been able to control her powers.
“I was able to survive because of you,” she said.
I shook my head again. “You were able to survive because you are strong. I just happened to be there for some of it.”
“But you were there, and I was never alone. Not really.”
“Not like him.”
We moved forward, continuing to douse the flames with Earth and Water, attempting to see what we could do for the man who had died for his power.
In the end, we couldn’t do much of anything.
Durlan had died at his own hands, from his lack of strength. Because The Gray had been selfish in not teaching Durlan how to defend himself.
There was no coming back from this. No silver lining for the Wielder.
The Gray’s second was dead, and sadly we hadn’t gotten anything out of him that we didn’t already know.
The Gray hadn’t come, hadn’t tried to save the man who had been by his side for decades.
Suddenly, the injustice of it all, the depravity and the sadness, slid over me. I looked at the people around me, those of our circle, and knew that I wasn’t alone. That was the only thing I could promise myself: we would do our best to work as one, even if the soullessness of death was the only thing to comfort us in the end.